Sailboats on the River Scheldt 1892

Theo van Rysselberghe painted "Sailboats on the River Scheldt" using the Pointillist technique, a style emerging in the late 19th century amidst significant social and economic change. This style, characterized by small, distinct dots of color, reflects a broader cultural interest in scientific approaches to art, mirroring the era's positivist leanings. Rysselberghe, situated within the avant-garde circles of his time, was deeply engaged in the exploration of light and color. His choice of subject, the River Scheldt, is not arbitrary. It reflects the intersection of labor and leisure. The river, a crucial artery for trade and transport, is here rendered tranquil, almost dreamlike, in a way that softens the hard realities of labor and industrial growth. The serene depiction of sailboats contrasts sharply with the socio-political tensions that permeated the era. "I am more of a colorist than a draughtsman," Rysselberghe stated, indicating his focus was primarily on aesthetics. However, the very act of aestheticizing a scene can be seen as a commentary on, or an escape from, the harsh realities of his contemporary world. It offers a quiet, almost meditative space, away from the clamor and conflict of modern life.